Director of Event Planning

Job Number ‎23020753
Job Category Event Management
Location The Westin Cairo Golf Resort & Spa Katameya Dunes, Road ‎90,New
Cairo City, Cairo, Egypt, Egypt VIEW ON MAP
Schedule Full-Time
Located Remotely? N
Relocation? N
Position Type Management

JOB SUMMARY

Manages event planning functions and staff on a daily basis. Core area of
responsibility is the event planning team, including the Senior Event
Managers, Event Managers, Associate Event Managers and Administrative
Assistants. Position oversees the administrative processes associated with the
pre-event and post-event phases of an event and the associated transitions
between all event phases. Ensures a seamless turnover from sales to operations
and back to sales while consistently delivering a high level of service.
Ensures the team maximizes revenue opportunities by up-selling and accurately
forecasting (catering and group rooms) all events. The position is responsible
for achieving guest and employee satisfaction and for managing the financial
performance of the department.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Education and Experience
* High school diploma or GED; ‎4 years experience in the event management, food and beverage, sales and marketing, or related professional area.
OR
* ‎2-year degree from an accredited university in Hotel and Restaurant Management, Hospitality, Business Administration, or related major; ‎2 years experience in the event management, food and beverage, sales and marketing, or related professional area.

CORE WORK ACTIVITIES

Managing Event Planning Operations
* Assigns all events turned over to Event Planning team.
* Oversees for turned opportunities' function space and group room blocks.
* Communicates and executes departmental and property emergency procedures and ensures staff are trained in safety procedures.
* Leads execution of activities to support the Event Management strategy.
* Works with direct reports to review scheduled events and troubleshoot potential challenges/conflicts.
* Leads discussions to review event complexity and proactively avoid service challenges and failures.
* Ensures the property is apprised of all groups that will impact property operations.
* Manages customer budgets to maximize revenue and meet customer needs.
* Maintains inventories to maximize customer satisfaction and revenue opportunities.
* Works with highly complex or high profile groups when financial impact will be significant.

Leading Event Planning Team
* Leads the catering menu development process.
* Champions all standards, policies and procedures for the Event Planning team.
* Leads Event Management meetings.

Providing and Ensuring Exceptional Customer Service
* Reviews comment cards, guest satisfaction results and other data to identify areas of improvement.
* Shares plans with property leadership and ensures corrective action is taken to continuously improve guest satisfaction.
* Displays leadership in guest hospitality, exemplifies excellent customer service and creates a positive atmosphere for guest relations.
* Interacts with guests to obtain feedback on product quality and service levels.
* Responds to and handles guest problems and complaints.
* Strives to improve service performance.
* Empowers employees to provide excellent customer service.

Managing the Sales and Marketing Strategy
* Develops working relationships with outside vendors and establishes prices and service agreements to enhance the event experience and to increase additional revenue opportunities for the property.
* Consult with customers in order to determine objectives and requirements for events such as meetings, conferences, and conventions.

Conducting Human Resources Activities
* Establishes customer service guidelines so employees understand expectations and parameters.
* Ensures employees receive on-going training to understand guest expectations.
* Observes service behaviors of employees and provides feedback to individuals and or managers.
* Reviews staffing levels to ensure that guest service and planning needs are met.

MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES
Leadership

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  Adaptability - Develops strategies and identifies resources to implement and manage change; models flexibility in adjusting priorities; and communicates the need for change in a positive way that encourages commitment.

  
  


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  Communication - Actively listens and uses appropriate communication styles to deliver complex information in a clear concise way and influences others to accept a point of view, gain consensus, or take action.

  
  


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  Problem Solving and Decision Making - Models and sets expectations for solving complex problems, collecting and comparing information to evaluate alternatives, considering their potential impact before making decisions, involving others to gain agreement and support, and guiding others to implement solutions.

  
  


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  Professional Demeanor - Exhibits behavioral styles that convey confidence and command respect from others; makes a good first impression and represents the company in alignment with its values.

  
  

Managing Execution

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  Building and Contributing to Teams - Leads and participates as a member of a team to move the team toward the completion of common goals while fostering cohesion and collaboration among team members.

  
  


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  Driving for Results - Focuses and guides others in accomplishing work objectives.

  
  


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  Planning and Organizing - Gathers information and resources required to set a plan of action for self and/or others; prioritizes and arranges work requirements self and/or others to accomplish goals and ensure work is completed.

  
  

Building Relationships

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  Coworker Relationships - Develops and uses collaborative relationships to facilitate the accomplishment of work goals.

  
  


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  Customer Relationships - Develops and sustains relationships based on an understanding of customer needs and actions consistent with the company's service standards.

  
  


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  Global Mindset - Supports employees and business partners with diverse styles, abilities, motivations, and/or cultural perspectives; utilizes differences to drive innovation, engagement and enhance business results; and ensures employees are given the opportunity to contribute to their full potential.

  
  

Generating Talent and Organizational Capability

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  Organizational Capability - Evaluates and adapts the structure of organizational units, jobs, and work processes to best fit the needs and/or support the goals of an organizational unit.

  
  


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  Talent Management - Provides guidance and feedback to help individuals develop and strengthen skills and abilities needed to accomplish work objectives.

  
  

Learning and Applying Professional Expertise

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  Applied Learning - Seeks and makes the most of learning opportunities to improve performance of self and/or others.

  
  


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  Business Acumen - Understands and utilizes business information (e.g., data related to employee engagement, guest satisfaction, and property financial performance) to manage everyday operations and generate innovative solutions to approach business and administrative challenges.

  
  


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  Technical Acumen - Understands and utilizes professional skills and knowledge in a specific functional area to conduct and manage everyday business operations and generate innovative solutions to approach function-specific work challenges.

  
  
  
  
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    Event Planning - The ability to connect with customers, detail events, upsell products and services, manage multiple customers at a given time, be detailed orientated, understand and have a working knowledge of catering and event management systems.

    
    
  
  
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    Food Production and Presentation - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for preparing and presenting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques and sanitation standards. Willingness to adhere to internal company standards.

    
    
  
  
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    General Event Management - The ability to have a working knowledge, understanding of polices, procedures and standards of the event management department to include, event planning, event operations and event technology for different types of events.

    
    
  
  
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    Banquets - Have a working knowledge of service standards, procedures and techniques for executing banquet event orders to include banquet /meeting room set up and strike, banquet design, and banquet beverage set-up and controls.

    
    
  
  
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    Event Services - Have a working knowledge of standards and procedures for proper meeting room and table set-ups, various meeting room and table configurations and the set-up of staging and dance flooring.

    
    
  
  
  
  


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  Basic Competencies - Fundamental competencies required for accomplishing basic work activities.

  
  
  
  
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    Basic Computer Skills - Uses basic computer hardware and software (e.g., personal computers, word processing software, Internet browsers, etc.).

    
    
  
  
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    Mathematical Reasoning - Demonstrates ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly, correctly, and in a way that allows one to solve work-related issues.

    
    
  
  
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    Oral Comprehension - Demonstrates ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

    
    
  
  
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    Reading Comprehension - Demonstrates understanding of written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

    
    
  
  
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    Writing - Communicates effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

    
    
  
  
  
  

At Westin, we are committed to empowering the well-being of our guests by
providing a refreshing environment, thoughtful amenities, and revitalizing
programming to help ensure that they leave feeling better than when they
arrived. We recognize that travel can be disruptive to our guests' well-being,
and we're energized to assist as partners in helping them maintain control and
soaring above it all while on the road. Everything we do is designed to help
guests be at their best, and they appreciate our supportive attitude,
anticipatory service and extensive knowledge on how to best assist them
throughout their stay. We are looking for dynamic people who are excited to
join the team and ready to jump into any situation to give a helping hand. If
you're someone who has is positive, adaptable and intuitive, and has a genuine
interest in the well-being of others around you, we invite you to discover how
at Westin, together we can rise.